FLORIDA BREWERS GUILD PRESENTS FIRST BREWERS CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO, AUGUST 7-9[8-9-17: Ed Note: I am attending the Florida Brewers Conference! See daily photos on social media pages. Recap story on the way!]

Brewers, distributors, and brewery trade partners will convene in Orlando this week, as the Florida Brewers Guild presents its inaugural Florida Brewers Conference, August 7-9. The Conference, which is slated to become an annual event, features educational and networking opportunities for those in or following the craft beer industry. A number of speakers are lined up to present discussions on numerous areas of interest, from business operations and legal issues to brewing techniques to marketing.

Several presenters are known nationally and worldwide in the trade. Garrett Oliver, of Brooklyn Brewery and Editor of The Oxford Companion to Beer, will deliver the opening keynote address on Tuesday morning. Bart Watson, Economist for the Brewers Association, will discuss statistics relating to breweries and beer. Jim Koch, founder of Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams Beer), will relate his experiences and insights into craft beer and the industry. Joey Redner, founder of Cigar City Brewing, will discuss learning from mistakes. The event is divided into a number of breakout sessions and general presentations over two days, with a brewery event at Crooked Can Brewing in Winter Garden. FBG Executive Staff (Sean Nordquist, Executive Director; Kent Bailey, President; and Josh Aubuchon, General Counsel and lobbyist) will enlighten the attendees with a State of the Guild address.

The stated mission of the FBG is to “educate the public about the brewing industry in Florida; promote networking and educational opportunities between brewers, consumers, suppliers, and government regulatory agencies; and continually promote free market access of the Florida brewing industry to the public.”

Membership in the Florida Brewers Guild is open to breweries, distributors, retailers, and allied trade partners. The FBG also presents an annual beer festival in Tampa in March, which this writer has attended annually (see this year's recap story).

FREE KOOZIE! Did someone say beershirt?

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